American air-launched orbital launch vehicle. NASA failed to attract industry co-investment to develop the original X-34A air-launched, reusable, low-technology, low-cost orbital launch vehicle concept. So the project was scaled back and NASA contracted with Orbital Sciences on 28 August 1996 to build and fly the X-34 unmanned technology demonstrator. This program in turn developed overruns and was cancelled in 2001 before a test flight was made.

Objectives of the X-34 program were to demonstrate new, efficient vehicle processing and launch operations and evaluate the performance of advanced reusable launch vehicle technologies. The program was to demonstrate a nominal two-week turnaround between flights, and a surge capability of two flights within 24 hours. The single stage vehicle used NASA's low cost Fastrac engine for liquid oxygen/kerosene propulsion. The vehicle itself used all-composite primary and secondary structure. Its autonomous flight control system was to make automated approach and landings. Flights were planned to speeds of Mach 8 over an 800 km range. The original 1996 contract with Orbital Sciences covered construction of three flight vehicles and 26 powered and unpowered flights launched from an L-1011.

NASA rolled out the first unpowered aerodynamic flight test vehicle in April 1999 and conducted captive-carry flights from the L-1011 later in the year. By July 2000 the vehicle was being towed by a truck down the runway at Edwards. Before it could become airborne, a NASA review of the project indicated costs continued to rise beyond budget, and that the benefits to be derived from continuing the program did not justify the cost. The X-34 was cancelled, together with the X-33, on 1 March 2001.

The X-34A's drop weight of 21,800 kg included 13,600 kg of propellant. Investment in the project before cancellation included the original $85.7 million contract with Orbital Sciences; $16 million from NASA and other government agencies for wind tunnel testing, thermal protection systems, vehicle health monitoring, ground support, engine testing and flight support; $ 10 million in Orbital corporate funds for modifications to its L-1011 carrier aircraft to accommodate the X-34. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center managed the program; and Marshall expenses to develop the Fastrac engine.

At one point a heavier, X-34B, which would be launched by a 747, was proposed. This presumably would have been a version of the original design, capable of releasing an upper stage to take a payload to orbit.

X-34 NASA failed to attract industry co-investment to develop the original X-34A air-launched, reusable, low-technology, low-cost orbital launch vehicle concept. So the project was scaled back and NASA contracted with Orbital Sciences on 28 August 1996 to build and fly the X-34 unmanned technology demonstrator. This program in turn developed overruns and was cancelled in 2001 before a test flight was made. More...